UC-NRLF 


B    M    DTfi    Tfi? 


, 


v-Jl  1 1 W 


KERTYNICK 


AND -THE -GIANT 


BY' JULIA-  ELLSWORTH  -FORD- 
RHYMES  •  BY.  WITTER- SY/V/VER. 
WITH 'ILLUSTRATIONS  ■  BY'  AR  THUR-RACKHAM 


SNICKERTY      NICK 


DANCE   OF   SPRING 


UHtiARY 


SNICKERTY  NICK 


BY 


JULIA   ELLSWORTH    FORD 

Rhymes  by 
Witter  Bynner 

Illustrations  by 
Arthur  Rack  ham 


New  York 

MOFFAT,  YARD   &  CO. 

1919 


COPYRIGHT,  1919, 

BY 

MOFFAT,  YARD    &    CO. 


The  acting  rights  are  reserved  by  the  author. 


?6^ 

EDUC. 

,HWARt 


FOR  THE  DELIGHTFUL   CHILD   SPIRIT 
OF   THE    RHYMES    OF 

WITTER        BYNNER 

I    AM    DEEPLY   GRATEFUL 

AND   THAT   PART   OF   THE    PLAY   WHICH    IS    MINE 

I    DEDICATE    TO    HIM 

WITH    SINCERE    APPRECIATION 


!    ,-   >7 


BY  THE    SAME   AUTHOR 

PICTURES  by  GEORGE  FREDERICK 
WATTS.  23  illustrations.  Introduction 
by  Author  and  Thomas  W.  Lamont.  4I0, 
$3-50. 

KING  SOLOMON  AND  THE  FAIR 
SHULAMITE  with  7  photogravure  illus- 
trations.      I2»W,  $1.50. 

"A.  E."  A  Note  of  Appreciation,  with 
portrait  and  facsimile.     l2tno,  $1.00. 

SIMEON  SOLOMON.     An  Appreciation, 

with  22  illustrations.     4I0,  $1.50. 

THE  MIST.  A  Play  in  One  Act.  Produced 
in  London  at  The  Little  Theatre  November, 
1913- 

IMAGINA.  A  Fanciful  Tale  for  Chil- 
dren and  Grown-ups.  With  colored  illus- 
trations by  Arthur  Rackham  and  draw- 
ings by  Lauren  Ford.  $2.00 


MOFFAT.      YARD      &       CO 


FOREWORD 

The  idea  of  the  Selfish  Giant  in  this  play  has  been 
taken  from  the  story  of  Oscar  Wilde's  Selfish^  Giant. 
Spring  would  not  come  to  his  garden  because  he  would 
not  let  the  children  play  in  it.  It  was  always  winter 
there. 

One  morning  he  woke  up  hearing  the  music  of 
a  linnet  singing  in  his  garden.  He  jumped  out  of 
bed  and  saw  a  most  wonderful  sight,  "flowers  were 
looking  up  through  the  green  grass  and  laughing,"  and 
in  every  tree  was  a  little  child;  but  one  little  boy  was  too 
tiny  to  climb  the  tree  and  the  Giant's  heart  melted  and 
he  helped  the  little  child  into  the  tree.  The  little 
child  kissed  him  and  forever  after  the  children  played 
in  the  Giant's  garden,  because  his  heart  had  softened 
through  love  of  the  little  child. 

The  children  never  saw  the  child  again.  But  one  day 
he  came  to  the  Giant,  who  saw  on  the  palms  of  the 
child's  hands  "  the  prints  of  two  nails  and  the  prints 
of  two  nails  were  on  the  little  feet." 

vii 


FOREWORD 

The  little  child  had  come  to  take  the  Giant  to  play  in 
his  garden,  "which  is  Paradise." 

My  indebtedness  to  this  story  is  the  character  of  the 
Selfish  Giant.  The  little  play  of  Snickerty  Nick  is  not 
a  dramatization  of  The  Selfish  Giant.  The  character 
of  Snickerty  Nick  is  an  original  character  and  the 
play  centers  around  him.  The  little  boy  is  only  a  loving 
and  beloved  child,  and  Spring  and  Winter  are  per- 
sonified by  faeries  and  gnomes. 

To  Arthur  Rackham  I  tender  my  most  sincere  thanks 
whose  magic  touch,  as  in  Peter  Pan,  Grimm's  Faery 
Tales  and  Undine,  making  real  all  faeries  and  gnomes, 
endears  all  child  life  to  grown-ups  as  well  as  to  children. 

Julia  Ellsworth  Ford. 


Vlll 


CHARACTERS 
THE  GIANT baron  bill-arron 

BOMBERRUM 

THE  DWARF snickerty  nick 

THE  LITTLE  BOY 

THE  CHILDREN 

WINTER 

SPRING 

WINTER'S  GNOMES— snow 

HAIL 
FROST 

NORTH  WIND 
CHILBLAINS 

SPRING'S  FAERIES— cowslip 

BUTTERCUP 
SWEET  WILLIAM 
DANDELION 
BLUE  BELL 
BUMBLE  BEE 
RAGGED  SAILOR 

The  children  may  choose  their  names  from 
Mother  Goose  or  any  they  may  fancy. 

9 


A  little  boy  came  laughing  and  turned  icicles 
into  flowers  and  won  a  kingdom  with  love. 


SCENE  I 


SNICKERTY   NICK 


Scene  I. — A  flower  garden  covered  with  frost 
and  snow.  Here  and  there  bushes  .covered 
with  snow — large  enough  to  hide  'children. 
On  the  right  a  tower  with  window  and  door. 
In  the  middle  back  a  wall  with  a  barred 
gate,  through  which  flowers  are  seen  bloom- 
ing outside.  On  the  step  of  the  tower  is 
seen  the  Dwarf.  He  has  a  kind  quaint  face. 
He  is  painting  an  enormous  sign* 


TRESPASSERS 

WILL  BE 

ET 


DWARF 

A  Giant  owns  this  garden 

Where  the  children  want  to  play, 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

But  the  Giant  hates  the  children 

And  chases  them  away; 
And  there  can't  be  any  summer  here, 

The  sun  will  never  stay,. 
For  where  no  children  ever  come, 

It's  winter  every  day. 

Now  I'm  the  Giant's  servant 

And  I  never  have  my  way : 
For  I  have  to  tell  the  children 

That  they  mustn't  come  and  play. 
For  I  wouldn't  want  them  eaten  up 

And  so  I  have  to  say, 
It's  not  my  grass,  you  can't  come  in, 

You've  got  to  go  away. 

[Placing-  the  paint  brush  in  the  paint  can] 

Pretty  good  work,  Nicky.    One  more  touch 
and  it  will  be  finished. 

\While  Snickerty  Nick  is  eyeing  his  work,  a 

small  boy  creeps  through  the  hedge,  tip- 

16 


He  has  a  quaint  kind  face 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

toes  up  behind  Nicky  and  takes  his  paint 
brush  away.  Nicky  reaches  for  it,  not  find- 
ing it,  looks  puzzled,  hunts  for  it  and  dis- 
covers the  little  boy.~\ 

LITTLE   BOY 

[Holding  up  the  paint  brush,  laughing] 

Hello,  Nicky!    What  will  you  give  me  for 
this? 

DWARF 

A  spanking. 

LITTLE   BOY 

O  no,  you  couldn't! 

DWARF 

Couldn't  I?     Why  couldn't  I,   I'd  like  to 
know? 

LITTLE   BOY 

[Smiling  and  giving  the  Dwarf  the  brush] 
You  don't  look  like  a  spanker,  Nicky. 

17 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 

You're  right.    I'm  more  spanked  against  than 
spanking.    The  Giant  takes  care  of  that.    See 
what  he  made  me  do  for  him. 
[Pointing  to  the  sign.] 

LITTLE    BOY 

What  does  it  say,  Nicky? 

DWARF 

Trespassers  will  be  et. 

LITTLE   BOY 

What's  trespassers? 

DWARF 

You're  one. 

And  you'd  better  look  spry! — 

If  the  Giant  comes  by 

And  you're  here  yet — 

Why,  you'll  be  et. 
18 


/&fick.\)i 


More  spanked  against  than  spanking 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

It's  a  bit  cannibalistic,  I  must  say.  But  that 
isn't  my  doings,  you  know. 

LITTLE   BOY 

I'm  not  afraid  of  him. 
[He  goes  toward  the  Giant's  door  and  is  about 
to  knockJ] 

DWARF 

[Alarmed] 
Don't  knock  on  that  door! 

LITTLE   BOY 

I  want  to  ask  the  Giant  why  we  can't  play  in 
his  garden.  The  gardens  that  we  can't  get  into 
are  the  ones  we  like  the  best,  and  we  like  this 
garden  better  than  any  other  garden. 

DWARF 

When  the  Giant  goes  away  I'll  let  you  in. 
I'm  afraid  you'll  be  et  up  if  you  stay  here. 

19 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
LITTLE   BOY 

I'm  not  afraid. 

DWARF 

Don't  you  see  that  sign?  Out  with  you ! 
[Dwarf  chases  the  Boy  out  of  the  garden.  He 
stumbles  over  his  easle  and  the  sign  falls 
down  with  a  loud  noise.  As  Snickerty  Nick 
opens  the  gate  the  Giant  sticks  his  head  out 
of  the  door.  The  Giant  is  a  little  deaf  and 
often  holds  his  hand  to  his  ear.] 

GIANT 

Hello,    Snickerty    Nick!      What's    all    this 
racket? 

[He  catches  sight  of  the  sign,  comes  out,  grabs 
the  brush  from  the  Dwarf's  hand  and  adds 
another  T  and  roars,] 

E-T-T— E    double    T— ETT.      Don't    you 

know  how  to  spell  ETT? 

20 


The  Giant  sticks  his  head  out  of  the  door 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
I  do. 

GIANT 

You  don't. 

DWARF 

[Making  a  bow] 

I  beg  to  differ  with  you,  Baron  Bill-Arron 
Bomberrum.  I  have  been  the  amanuensis  of 
the  Marquise  of  Magog  for  ninety-nine  years. 

GIANT 

What's  an  amanuensis? 

DWARF 

An  amanuensis  is  a  man  who  follows  you 
around  and  writes  down  everything  you  say. 

GIANT 

What's  that  to  do  with  ett? 

21 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
What  has  that  to  do  with  ett? 
The  most  exquisite  woman  I  ever  met, 
Etta  by  name,  a  love,  a  pet, 
Here's  what  she  had  to  do  with  ett — 
She  et  her  egg  with  etiquette. 
But  once  her  lovely  sleeve  got  wet 
And  it  dripped  when  she  danced  the  minuet 
And  left  a  spot  on  the  green  carpet. 
And  I  made  a  note  of  her  great  regret 
In  this  little  green  book  which  I  carry  yet. 

GIANT 

Stop  your  nonsense,  talk  sense. 

DWARF 

Who  talks  sense  anyway? 
[Counting  his  buttons] 

Richman?   Poorman?   Beggarman?  Thief? 

Doctor?   Lawyer?   Merchant?   Chief?   None 

of  them  talk  sense. 

22 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

GIANT 
You  irritate  me.    I'm  going  to  kick  you. 

DWARF 

[Consulting  the  green  book] 

You've  already  kicked  me  9,995  times.  When 
you've  kicked  me  10,000  times,  according 
to  your  solemn  promise  as  a  giant,  the  kingdom 
will  be  mine.  Don't  say  I  didn't  warn  you.  Five 
more! 

GIANT 

By  Beelzebub,  I  must  kick  you. 
[He  kicks  the  Dwarf.] 

DWARF 

[Taking  his  score  book  out  of  his  pocket] 

Got  it  in  my  score  book — got  it  in — 9,996 
kicks. 

[Dusts  his  pants,  where  the  Giant  has  kicked 

23 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

him,  with  a  whisk  broom  hanging  on  his 
coat  J] 

GIANT 

Here's  another. 
[Giant  kicks  Dwarf  again .] 

DWARF 

9,997  kicks !    Only  three  more ! 
[The  Dwarf  chuckling,  again  takes  the  whisk 
broom  and  dusts  his  pants.~\ 

GIANT 

Hang  the  sign  on  the  gate,  you   snickerty 
snicker!    What  were  you  made  for? 

DWARF 

Being,  not  doing,  your  Highness. 

GIANT 

Well,  I  was  made  for  doing.    I  am  faring  away 
early  to-morrow  morning  before  you'll  be  up, 

24 


SNTCKERTY  NICK 

sleepy  head,  to  see  the  great  Cornish  Ogre  to 
ask  him  why  it's  always  winter  in  my  garden. 
It's  spring  now  and  I  want  flowers  in  my  gar- 
den and  I  don't  understand  why  they  won't  grow. 
They  bloom  everywhere  except  here.  I  am  the 
great  giant,  Baron  Bill-Arron  Bomberrum.  And 
I  will  have  flowers.  Look  around  and  see  if  you 
can  find  me  even  one  bud. 
[They  both  look.] 

DWARF 

I  can't  find  one.  I  like  my  friend  Mary's  gar- 
den better  than  yours,  although  I  don't  care  for 
cockle  shells  and  silver  bells.  Personally,  I  pre- 
fer the  pretty  maids  all  in  a  row. 

GIANT 

Listen!  I  shall  be  gone  seven  years.  Seven 
is  a  lucky  number.  I  shall  stay  only  seven  years 
because  my  conversation  is  limited. 

25 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 

[Scratching  his  forehead] 
It's  the  limit! 

GIANT 

[With  his  hand  to  his  ear] 
What? 

DWARF 

I  say  seven  years  is  the  limit. 
[The  clock  in  the  tower  strikes  one.] 

GIANT 

What's  that? 

DWARF 

Oh,  that's  Dickery  Dock.     He  is  a  perfect 

nuisance.     I  wish  he  would  let  that  old  clock 

alone.    Personally  I  dislike  him. 

[Just  as  the  Giant  starts  to  go  out  of  the  gate,  the 

Dwarf  puts  his  hat  on  the  ground  in  front 

of  the  Giant.] 

26 


THE   LITTLE   BOY 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
Kick  it  quick ! 
[To  the  audience,  behind  his  hand] 
There's  a  brick  in  it! 

[The  Giant  starts  to  kick  the  Dwarf  again.] 

DWARF 

[Standing  still] 
Go  on,  kick  me — 999 


[  The  Giant  stops  his  foot  in  time,  shakes  his  stick 
at  him.] 

GIANT 

Not  this  time! 

DWARF 

Nick  of  time,  for  all  time  belongs  to  Snickerty 
Nick.    No  time  like  the  present. 

[Takes  off  his  hat  and  bows,  then  runs  swiftly 

around  in  a  circle.] 

27 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
GIANT 
What  are  you  doing? 

DWARF 

Killing  time.  I  learned  to  do  that  when  I  was 
the  amanuensis  of  the  Marquise  of  Magog. 

GIANT 

Hang  up  the  sign  and  lock  the  gate.  Don't 
let  anyone  in.  Don't  let  the  children  play  in  my 
garden.  My  own  garden  is  my  own  garden  and 
I  will  allow  nobody  to  play  in  it  but  myself.  Do 
you  hear? 

DWARF 

Yes,  your  Stoutness,  I  hear.    Hearing  may  be 

better  than  seeing — sometimes — it  depends  on 

what  you  look  at.    Personally  I  prefer  seeing, 

even  when 

28 


SNICKERTY  NIC* 


\ 


GIANT 

Here,  Snickerty  Nick,  pull  off  my  boots.  1 
am  going  to  bed. 

[Dwarf  pulls  off  one  boot.] 

DWARF 

[Looking  at  it  quizzically] 

It  has  always  been  a  puzzle  to  me,  how  that 
old  woman  lived  in  the  shoe  with  so  many  chil- 
dren.   Very  insanitary. 

[As  he  pulls  off  the  other  boot,  the  Giant  kicks 
him.    He  rolls  over,  then  gets  up  and  makes 
the  entry  in  his  score  book.] 
9,999!     One  more  kick  and  the  kingdom's 
mine.    Hurrah! 

GIANT 

I  am  going  to  bed  now.  See  that  there  is  no 
noise  around  here. 

[Giant  puts  on  his  night-cap  and  goes  in.] 

29 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DWARF 

My  brain  may  be  little, 
My  brain  may  be  thick, 
But  why  should  people 
With  kingdoms — kick? 

My  brain  may  be  mighty, 
My  brain  may  be  deep, 
But  dreams  are  a  kingdom — 
I'm  going  to  sleep. 

[He  curls  up  on  the  steps  and  goes  to  sleep.    The 

stage  darkens.    It  is  night. ,] 
[Winter,  wrapped  in  silver,  steals  in  through  the 

gate,  treads  softly  around  the  flower  beds, 

in  and  out  among  the  bushes  and  stands  in 

the  middle.] 

WINTER 
[Calling  softly] 
Northwind !    Northwind ! 

30 


f.« 


DANCE   OF  WINTER   AND   GNOMES 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

\_Northwind  dashes  in  clothed  in  purple,  purple 
wings  floating  behind  her.] 

WINTER 

Blow  your  horn!  Call  our  friends!  This  is 
a  delightful  spot.  We  must  invite  Snow,  Hail, 
Frost,  and  Chilblains  and  live  here  all  the  year 
round. 

NORTHWIND 

Oo-oo-OO-ooh! 
[Snow  enters  all  in  white  carrying  a  basket  filled 
with  snowballs,  and  with  snow  to  sprinkle 
on  the  bushes.  Hail,  in  grey,  hops  over  one 
of  the  bushes  and  as  he  does  so  hailstones 
are  heard.  Frost,  in  silver,  waves  a  silver 
scarf  over  the  flowers.  Chilblains,  in  blue, 
comically  carries  an  enormous  bottle  of 
camphor.] 

WINTER 

Let's  dance. 

3i 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
WINTER  AND  GNOMES 

[As  they  dance] 

We'll  make  you  say,  Ooh!  and  we'll  make  you 
say,  Ow ! 
But  it's  cold,  cold,  cold! 
We've  a  wonderful  game  for  those  that  know 
how — 
You  don't,  for  you've  never  been  told. 
We  plant  little  icicles  neatly  in  rows, 
So  small  you  can't  see  them,  then  each  of  us  goes 
And  picks  one  and  tickles  the  end  of  your  nose, 
Another  one  prickles  the  tips  of  your  toes 
And  you  run  saying,  Ooh !  and  you  run  saying, 
Ow! 
But  it's  cold,  cold,  cold! 

WINTER 

Northwind,  lock  the  selfish  Giant  in. 

\_Northwind  locks  the  Giant's  door.] 

32 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
[Waking  up] 

Dear  me!    What  has  happened!     I'm  a  bit 
chilly  on  the  projecting  points. 
[Dwarf  rubs  his  ears  and  toes.] 

GIANT 

[Poking  his  head  out  of  the  window  with  his 
night-cap  on  aud  roaring] 

Get  out  of  my  garden.  Unlock  my  door,  you 
winter  villains.  You  and  your  friends  have 
killed  all  my  flowers  and  the  blossoms  on  my 
apple  trees  and  there  will  be  no  golden  fruit  in 
the  autumn.  If  I  catch  you  I  will  kill  you  and 
gobble  you  all  up. 

ALL 
[Mocking  him] 

Fee,  fi,  fo,  fum! 
Baron  Bill-Arron  Bomberrum! 
33 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
CHILBLAINS 

Baron  Bill-Arron  Bomberrum.  It'll  be  nip 
and  tuck  between  us  two.  Try  to  tuck  me  away 
and  I'll  nip  your  nose. 

GIANT 

I  will  turn  you  into  frogs  and  snakes. 

WINTER 

[Calling-] 

Snow,  Hail,  Frost,  Northwind,  Chilblains, 
come! 

[Snow  throws  snowballs  at  the  Giant.  Hail 
throws  stones  and  Northwind  bloivs  on  his 
horn  J] 

GIANT 

Go  away  or  I  will  kill  you  and  eat  you  up,  and 
a  poor  cold  porridge  you'll  make. 

34 


\A 


Snow  throws  snowballs  at  the  Giant 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

ALL 
[Mocking  and  clapping  their  hands  with  the 
rhyme] 

Pease  porridge  hot, 
Pease  porridge  cold, 
Pease  porridge  in  the  pot, 
The  Giant's  growing  old ! 

CHILBLAINS 

Give  him  the  cold  shoulder. 

\W T inter  and  gnomes  turn  left  shoulder  toward 
him.] 

Ha !  Ha !    Look  at  your  nose  now ! 

DWARF 

You  are  disturbing  my  rest  with  that  beastly 
noise.    Go  away,  I  want  to  sleep. 

GIANT 

Get  out  of  my  garden.    Go  to  the  North  Pole, 
there's  where  you  belong.    I  wish  you  would  go 

35 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

there  and   never   come   back   again.     I   want 
flowers  in  my  garden. 

WINTER 

This  is  nearer  and  more  convenient.  Besides 
we  don't  like  the  Esquimos,  they  are  too  fat. 

DWARF 

You  ought  to  know  my  friend  Jack  Sprat.    He 

eats  no  fat,  but  his  wife 

[Rolls  his  eyes  J] 

Personally  I  dislike  fat  women. 

GIANT 

Snickerty  Nick,  unlock  the  door. 

ALL 

[Restraining  the  Dwarf  with  nips] 

Ha,  ha,  Baron  Bill-Arron  Bomberrum. 
Come  out  if  you  can.  Just  walk  out,  your  High- 
ness. 

36 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DWARF 

Walking  is  such  good  exercise.  Much  better 
than  taking  a  bath.  Bathing  is  such  lonely  work, 
you  know. 

GIANT 

Snickerty  Nick,  if  you  will  unlock  the  door, 
I'll  give  you  the  last  kick.  Then  the  kingdom 
will  be  yours. 

CHILBLAINS 
[Unlocking  the  door] 

I've  unlocked  the  door.  Come  out,  come  out, 
kick  me,  and  give  me  the  kingdom. 

GIANT 

[Tramping  out  furious  and  holding  his  stick 
high] 
This  is  what  I'll  give  you ! 
[  They  run.    Giant  chases  them.    They  disappear 
behind  the  bushes.    Chilblains  steals  up  be- 
hind and  touches  the  Dwarf.] 

Z7 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DWARF 

[Howls.] 

My!    My!    What  has  happened  to  my  toes? 
[Sits  on  the  ground  and  rubs  them.] 

Something  has  happened  to  my  feet,  one  more 
thing  to  add  to  my  woes.  If  I  can't  walk  and 
have  to  use  crutches,  and  the  Giant  kicks  me 
any  more,  I'll  fall  down  and  break  my  head,  and 
lose  my  crown.  Personally  I  prefer  walking. 
[Chilblains  touches  the  Giant's  nose.] 

GIANT 

[His  nose  is  quite  white.] 

My!    My!    What  has  happened  to  my  nose? 
[Giant  steps  back  and  stumbles  over  the  Dwarf 
and  starts  to  kick  him  but  stops.] 

No,  Nicky,  I  won't  kick  you  any  more  for  the 

present;  I  know  just  when  to  stop. 

[Teeth  chattering] 

I  have  had  enough  of  this  old  garden.    I  won't 

38 


The  great  Cornish  Ogre 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

stay  here  any  longer.  I  am  getting  old  and 
lonely.  I  am  going  away  to  see  the  Cornish 
Ogre,  to  see  if  he  has  flowers  in  his  garden. 

DWARF 

Good-bye!    Be  good!    Good  for  nothing! 

GIANT 

What? 

DWARF 

Nothing. 

GIANT 

Don't  forget  to  hang  up  the  sign. 
[Exit  Giant.] 

[Little    Gnomes    pop    their    heads    above    the 
bushes.] 

GNOMES 

Snickerty  Nick,  what  will  you  give  us  when 
you  get  the  kingdom? 

39 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DWARF 

I'll   give  you  a  whistle  and  then  you   can 
whistle  for  it. 

NORTHWIND 

I  am  your  sister;  what  will  you  do  for  me? 

DWARF 

I'll  call  you  Una  and  give  you  a  dandelion  to 
roar  at  you. 

FROST 

I  am  your  brother;  what  will  you  give  me? 

DWARF 

I  will  give  you  the  mint  of  my  kingdom — a 
peppermint. 

SNOW 

I  am  your  sweetheart;  what  will  you  give  me? 

DWARF 

A  trip  to  the  moon. 

40 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

SNOW 
Ever  been  to  the  Moon,  Nicky? 

DWARF 

I  once  thought  of  going  to  the  moon  but  I 
was  prevented  by  circumstances  over  which  I 
had  no  control. 

HAIL 

I  am  your  great-uncle ;  what  will  you  give  me? 

DWARF 

I'll  give  you  a  horse  and  then  you'll  have  a 
hobby. 

CHILBLAINS 

I  am  your  granny ;  what  will  you  give  me? 

DWARF 

A  horn  and  then  you'll  have  plenty. 
I  am  very  busy.    Go  away.     I  am  going  to 
sleep  for  seven  years.    Ah!     Early  to  bed  and 

4i 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

early  to  rise  makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy  and 
wise.    Personally  I  prefer  to  sleep. 
[Hangs  the  sign  upside  down,  locks  the  gate 
and  gets  into  the  wheel-barrow .] 
Hurrah  for  a  rest!    I  will  snooze  and  snooze 
for  seven  years. 
[Goes  to  sleep.] 

NORTHWIND 

Sandman,  Sandman! 
[The  Sandman  appears  J] 

GNOMES 

[Quickly  picking  up  the  sand  from  under  the 

snow] 

Sandman,  Sandman, 

Take  it  in  your  hand,  man ! 

See  the  Dwarf  has  closed  his  eyes, 

Come  and  give  him  a  surprise. 

Look,  his  mouth  is  open  wide — 

Pour  your  handful  right  inside, 
42 


The  Sandman  watches  smiling 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

Fill  it  up  with  sand,  man! 
Listen,  listen — hear  it  slide, 
Hear  it  bumping  down  inside, 
Thank  you,  Mr.  Sandman. 

[The  Sandman  watches  smiling  while  the 
Gnomes  have  a  revel  of  mirth  over  the 
Dwarfs  snoring.  They  conclude  with  a 
Snore  Dance,  circling  hand  in  hand  around 
the  Dwarf  and  at  regular  intervals  squatting 
as  they  snore  with  the  beat  of  the  music. 
Presently  they  run  behind  the  trees.  The 
snores  die  away  with  the  snore  music.  The 
stage  darkens .] 


43 


SCENE    II 


• 


Scene  II. — Nearly  seven  years  have  passed. 
Spring  has  taken  possession  of  the  garden 
and  flowers  are  blooming  everywhere. 
Spring,  dressed  in  yellow,  appears  suddenly 
out  of  the  bush;  then  several  little  figures 
dressed  in  yellow — or  other  colours — ap- 
pear. They  dance  in  front  of  the  flower 
beds  and  scatter  flowers. 

SPRING 

[Dances  and  sings] 

I  am  little  mischief  Spring 
Getting  into  everything ! 

Toorily,  oorily,  oo. 
And  when  I  lift  my  finger  ring 

Made  of  drops  of  dew, 
All  the  little  robins  sing, 
And  the  babies  go,  Goo,  Goo. 
47 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

Cowslip,  wake  the   Dwarf.     He  has  slept 
nearly  seven  years. 

[Cowslip  runs  to  wake  the  Dwarf,  slips  and 
falls.] 

SPRING 

Sweet  William,  pick  her  up.    She  is  always 
slipping!    Always  slipping! 
[Cowslip  slips  and  falls  many  times.     Sweet 
William  always  picks  her  up.] 

SPRING 

Buttercup,  see  if  you  can  wake  the  Dwarf. 

BUTTERCUP 

[Picking  a  buttercup  from  her  dress,  tickles 
the  Dwarf's  nose.  The  Dwarf  makes  faces. 
Buttercup  holds  the  buttercup  under  the 
Dwarfs  chin.] 

Do  you  like  butter-butter-butter? 

48 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DWARF 

[In  a  sleepy  voice] 

Butter?    Butter  is  no  good  without  bread. 
[He  opens  his  eyes  for  a  moment,  then  shuts 
them  again.] 

BUTTERCUP 

[Shaking  him] 

He  doesn't  like  butter !    I  can't  wake  him. 

SPRING 

Ragged  Sailor,  try  what  you  can  do. 
[Ragged  Sailor  with  his  shirt  sticking  out  tugs 
at  the  Dwarf.] 

RAGGED  SAILOR 

Ahoy,  Nicky!    Time  you  pulled  up  anchor. 
Here,  shift  to  Port. 
[Rolling  him  over  on  his  side.] 

DWARF 

[Sitting  up] 

49 


SNICKERTY  NIC* 


\ 


Hello,  Dicky  Dicky  Doubt,  with  your  shirt- 
tail  out ! 

[They  all  laugh.] 
[Nicky  rubs  his  eyes  and  falls  asleep  again.] 

RAGGED  SAILOR 

There's  no  moving  him.    He's  aground,  he  is. 
[Sailor  fashion  he  dances  a  few  steps. ,] 

SPRING 

Sweet  William,  you  try. 
[Sweet  William  takes  the  paints  that  the  Dwarf 
has  used  for  the  sign  and  paints  a  dot  of  red 
on  his  forehead,  his  cheeks  and  then  the  end 
of  his  nose  until  he  is  a  droll  sight.] 

SWEET  WILLIAM 

See  what  a  funny  face  he  has.    He  won't  know 

himself  when  he  wakes  up. 

[Shaking  him] 

Wake  up !    Wake  up !    I  can't  wake  him. 

5o 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
BLUE  BELL 

Let  me  try.    I  will  tickle  him. 
Tickely,  tickely,  on  the  knee, 
If  you  laugh,  you  don't  love  me. 
[She  tickles  him  on  the  nose  and  on  the  knee. 
He  sits  up  suddenly  for  a  moment ,  rubs  his 
nose  and  makes  funny  faces.     Finally  he 
falls  back  asleep.] 
It's  no  use,  he  doesn't  love  me  and  he  won't 
wake  up. 

[The  Dwarf  snickers  in  his  sleep.] 
BUMBLE  BEE 

[In  a  low  buzzing  voice.] 

I  can  wake  him.     I'll  stick  my  itchy  needle 
in,  in,  in. 

[The  Dwarf  scratches  first  in  one  place,  then  in 
another,  gives  a  kick  and  curls  up  asleep 
again.] 

5i 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DANDELION 

I'll  play  a  trick  on  him,  I'll  put  his  hair  in  curl 
papers. 
[To  the  audience] 

Do  you  like  curly  hair,  boys? 
[Putting  Jus  front  locks  in  curl  papers] 

Look  at  Sleeping  Beauty. 

SPRING 

I  can  wake  him.    If  he  has  slept  seven  years 
he  must  be  hungry.     Nicky,  Nicky,  here's  an 
apple.    Take  a  bite. 
\_A  sweet  smile  hovers   over  the  face   of  the 

Dwarf.     He  reaches  out  his  hand  in  his 

sleep.] 

DWARF 

Did  anyone  say  apples?  Apples?  One  a 
penny,  two  a  penny,  hot — no — [hesitates].  Per- 
sonally I  prefer  them  cold.    Apples! 

[Falls  asleep  again.] 

52 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

SPRING 
I  have  an  idea. 

Trundle  him  in  the  wheelbarrow 
And  dump  him  on  the  ground 

The  way  you  dumped  old  Winter 
When  you  didn't  want  him  round. 

CHORUS 

Trundle  him  in  the  wheelbarrow 

And  dump  him  in  the  brook ! 
We  dumped  a  fat  man  in  last  week — 

Mercy,  how  he  shook ! 
His  face  was  like  a  cranky  stove 

When  the  fire  all  goes  out, 
And  you  ought  to  see  the  fat  man  now, 

He  isn't  half  so  stout. 
For  we  dumped  him  in  the  water 

And  he  rolled  and  rolled  and  rolled, 
He  was  harder  than  a  snowball, 

He  was  frozen  icy  cold; 
53 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

His  double  stomach  broke  off  first 

And  then  his  double  chin — 
If  the  Dwarf  can  find  them  floating  away, 

Perhaps  he'll  bring  them  in, 
Or  else  he'll  hang  them  on  himself 

And  not  be  half  so  thin ! 

SPRING 
[With  a  dandelion  in  her  mouth] 

Trundle  him  in  the  wheelbarrow 
And  dump  him  on  the  ground, 
The  way  you  dumped  me  yesterday — 

And  see  what  I  found, 
A  little  picture  of  the  sun 
With  sunbeams  all  around. 

I'll  stick  it  in  his  buttonhole! 
[She  puts  the  dandelion  in  his  buttonhole.] 
Now  you  are  a  little  dandy  dude. 

CHORUS 

And  we'll  dump  him  on  the  ground! 

54 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

ALL 
[Rushing  forward'] 
Let  me  do  it. 

[They  wheel  him  round.  The  wheelbarrow  up- 
sets and  the  Dwarf  rolls  out,  jumps  up  and 
rubs  his  eyes.  Spring  and  the  faeries  dis- 
appear.] 

DWARF 

Is  it  time  to  get  up?    I  think  I  must  have  had 
a  nap.    I  had  a  dream  just  now.    What  was  it? 
Have  I  slept  seven  years? 
[Proudly] 

I  must  see  if  I  am  still  as  beautiful  as  I  was. 

The   Marquise  of  Magog  loved  me   for  my 

strange  beauty.    Beauty  is  a  joy  forever. 

[He  takes  a  mirror  from  his  coat  and  looks  at 

himself.    Glances  over  his  shoulder  to  see 

if  anyone  could  be  looking  into  the  mirror.] 

Extraordinary !    This  must  be  some  mistake. 

Is  this  a  face?    Well,  well,  well!    Personally  I 

55 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

think  beauty  is  only  skin  deep,  fit  for  women 
and  peacocks.  But  what  is  this?  A  dandelion? 
I  must  have  been  picking  flowers  in  my  sleep. 

I  love  to  sleep-walk  in  a  dell, 
To  gather  flowers  and  whistle — 

But  O,  I  woke  up  with  a  yell 
The  night  I  picked  a  thistle. 

I  dreamed  I  kissed  a  little  girl 

As  pretty  as  my  sister — 
But  O,  she  had  long  finger-nails 

And  scratched  me  when  I  kissed  her. 

Some  people  are  like  thistle-tops; 

They  beckon  and  divert  you, 
And  look  at  you  with  friendly  looks 

And  smile  at  you — and  hurt  you. 

[The  garden  being  now  full  of  flowers,  little 

children  peep  through  the  gate  and  call, 

pelting  the  Dwarf  with  blossoms. 

56 


Little  children  peep  through  the  gate 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

CHILDREN 
Nicky,  Nicky,  will  the  Giant  come  back  soon? 
May  we  come  in? 

DWARF 

[Delighted] 

Come  in,  come  in!     But  the  Giant  will  be 
home  soon  and  he  will  eat  you  up  if  he  catches 
you. 
[Points  to  the  sign.] 

FIRST  CHILD 

Will  the  Giant  come  to-day? 

DWARF 

The  Giant  said  he  would  be  away  seven  years. 
[Looking  at  his  large  dangling  watch] 

It's  seven  years  to-day.  He  has  gone  to  see  the 
Cornish  Ogre.  After  the  seven  years  are  over 
he  will  have  said  all  that  he  has  to  say,  for  his 
conversation  is  limited. 

57 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
SECOND  CHILD 

He  is  a  selfish  old  Giant  and  he  doesn't  like  us. 
There  aren't  any  flowers  when  he's  here. 

THIRD  CHILD 

[Who  is  timid] 

He  won't  let  anyone  play  in  his  garden.    I'm 
scared.    I  want  to  go  home. 

FIRST  CHILD 

We  like  it  here  and  we  can  run  when  we  hear 
him  coming. 

FOURTH  CHILD 

It  is  better  than  playing  on  the  hard  road.    The 
road  is  full  of  cobble-stones. 

DWARF 

Quite  true,  quite  true.    Cobble-stones  gather 
no  moss. 

SECOND  CHILD 

It's  such  a  nice  garden. 

58 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
Yes,  geometrically  it  is  very  fine.  Geometry 
is  very  interesting — to  those  who  love  it.  Some 
people  prefer  the  encyclopedia.  Too  many 
facts,  however,  stunt  the  imagination.  Person- 
ally I  prefer  poetry. 

THIRD  CHILD 

[Timidly] 

If  he  comes  back  to-day,  will  he  eat  us  up? 

DWARF 

He  may  not  come  until  to-morrow.    But  if  he 
does  come  to-day  he  will  gobble  you  up. 

Fee,  fi,  fo,fum, 

He'll  smell  the  blood  of  little  Tom  Thumb, 
And  yours  and  yours,  and  up  he'll  come 
And  stuff  you  all  in  his  great  big  turn ! 
Fee,  fi,  fo,  fum ! 
[Third  child  looks  frightened  and  hides  behind 
one  of  the  others.] 

59 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
FOURTH  CHILD 

Aren't  you  afraid  he  will  eat  you  up? 

DWARF 

No,  I  am  very  old  and  tough.    He  won't  eat 
me. 

THIRD  CHILD 

Let's  go  away. 

FIRST  CHILD 

No,  I  want  to  stay  and  pick  some  flowers. 

THIRD  CHILD 

You'd  better  not,  the  Giant  won't  like  it. 

FIRST  CHILD 

Well,  let's  have  a  dance,  then. 

DWARF 

All  right.    Dancing  is  quite  the  vogue  now. 

I  am  thinking  of  taking  it  up  myself. 

60 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

[As  he  takes  a  few  steps,  his  whisk  broom  falls 

on  floor.] 
Dear  me,  it  came  off. 
Button,  button,  who's  got  the  button? 
You  got  the  botton?    You  got  the  button? 
[To  a  child  in  the  audience.] 
I  see  a  little  girl  and  she  has  a  little  nose 

Right  in  the  middle  of  her  face ; 
But  the  nose  is  gone  where  a  good  nose  goes — 

My  button's  in  its  place. 
O,  I've  lost  my  button,  alas,  alack! 
Little  girl,  little  girl,  please  give  it  back! 
Button,  button,  she's  got  the  button 

And  will  not  give  it  back ! 
Button,  button,  she's  got  the  button — 

Somebody  give  me  a  tack! 
[He  tacks  the  whisk  broom  in  place.] 
Whackity,  whackity,  whack! 

CHILDREN 

Whackity — whackity — whack ! 

61 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
FIRST  CHILD 

Let's  play  house. 

SECOND  CHILD 

No,  we  played  house  yesterday,  and  Tommy 
played  the  mother.  But  it  wasn't  any  fun,  for 
Tommy  hasn't  any  imagination.  He  doesn't 
know  how  to  be  a  mother. 

FOURTH  CHILD 

Let's  play  Puss  in  the  Corner.    Who'll  be 
puss?    Nicky,  will  you? 

CHILDREN 

Puss,  puss,  puss 

DWARF 

No,  I  am  too  busy. 

62 


"Let's  play" 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

[  The  Little  Boy  runs  in  laughing.  The  children 
gather  around  him  and  draw  him  into  the 
center.] 

LITTLE  BOY 

Isn't  the  Giant's  garden  a  lovely  garden  to 
play  in? 

FIRST  CHILD 

Will  you  be  puss? 

LITTLE  BOY 

Yes,  I'll  be  puss. 
[The  giant  is  heard  in  the  distance.] 

CHILDREN 

The  Giant !  The  Giant !  The  Giant  is  com- 
ing; he'll  gobble  us  up. 

&IANT 

Who  is  in  my  garden?  My  own  garden  is 
my  own  garden.  I  will  allow  nobody  to  play  in 
it  but  myself. 

63 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
CHILDREN 

Nicky,  Nicky,  where  shall  we  hide?    If  the 
Giant  comes  in  the  front  gate  he'll  catch  us. 

DWARF 

The  Giant  always  comes  in  the  back  gate. 
Run,  run. 

[The  children  run  toward  the  big  front  gate  but 
they  cannot  open  //.] 

CHILDREN 

The  gate  won't  open,  Nicky.    He'll  catch  us, 
he'll  catch  us. 

GIANT 

[Heard  coming  nearer  and  nearer .] 

Who  is  in  my  garden?    I  am  the  Baron  Bill- 

Arron  Bomberrum.    My  own  garden  is  my  own 

garden,  and  I  will  allow  nobody  to  play  in  it  but 

myself. 

64 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

[The  children  tug  frantically  at  the  gate  but  they 
cannot  open  it.  They  hide  behind  the 
bushes.  The  Giant  appears  with  a  huge 
stick.  The  Dwarf  steals  quickly  toward  the 
gate  and  opens  it.  The  children  finding  the 
gate  open  rush  toward  it.  The  Giant  chases 
them  with  his  stick.  The  little  boy  is  left, 
whom  the  Giant  does  not  see.] 

GIANT 

[Looking  around  astonished] 

What  has  happened.  Flowers  in  my  garden? 
The  Cornish  Ogre  said  the  flowers  never 
bloomed  in  his  garden  and  they  never  would  in 
mine. 

[Discovers  the  little  boy  lying  under  the  trees, 
where  he  has  been  knocked  down  by  the 
children  in  their  flight.] 

LITTLE  BOY 

[Holding  up  his  hands] 

65 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

O,  Mr.  Giant,  help  me  up.    I  have  hurt  my- 
self. 

[The  Giant  looks  at  the  child  and  puts  the  stick 
down,  then  lifts  him  up;  and  the  little  boy 
throws  his  arms  around  the  Giant's  neck 
and  kisses  him.] 

LITTLE  BOY 

Thank  you,  Mr.  Giant. 

GIANT 
[Reflectively] 

No  one  ever  kissed  me  before.    It  feels  queer. 
[Giant  puts  him  down.] 

LITTLE  BOY 

I'm  all  right  now. 

[Takes  the  Giant's  hand  and  looks  up  into  his 
face.] 
I  think  I  will  run  and  play  with  the  children 

now.    Good-bye,  Mr.  Giant. 

66 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

GIANT 
Don't  you  want  a  flower?    You  may  have  one. 
I'll  pick  one  for  you.    Here  it  is. 

LITTLE  BOY 

Thank  you,  good  Mr.  Giant. 

GIANT 

[Gradually  relenting] 

Here  is  another,  you  may  have  this.  [Aside] 
No  one  ever  called  me  "Good  Mr.  Giant"  before. 
[Looks  at  the  little  boy  with  a  smile.~\ 

LITTLE  BOY 

Lean  down  and  I  will  put  one  in  your  button- 
hole and  one  in  mine. 

GIANT 

Aren't  you  a  little  chap? 

LITTLE  BOY 

Aren't  you  a  big  chap?    Little  chaps  like  me 

like  big  chaps  like  you. 

67 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

GIANT 

How  would  you  like  to  have  me  give  you  all 
my  flowers? 

LITTLE  BOY 

O,  I  don't  want  all  your  flowers.  Just  some 
of  them. 

GIANT 

How  would  you  like  to  have  me  give  you  my 
kingdom  and  come  and  live  here? 

DWARF 

[Who  has  been  watching  closely] 

Now  see  here,  Baron  Bill-Arron  Bomberrum, 
throwing  bouquets  is  all  very  well — but  king- 
doms  

LITTLE  BOY 

I  couldn't  stay  here  without  the  other  children. 

GIANT 

No,  I  don't  want  the  other  children.    But  I 

68 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

will  let  you  come  here  and  play  in  my  garden 
whenever  you  want  to.    You  can  always  come. 

LITTLE  BOY 

No,  I  couldn't  do  that.    I  must  go  now  and 
play  with  them.    Thank  you  for  the  flowers. 
[Kisses  the  Giant.] 

GIANT 

No  one  ever  kissed  me  before,  little  chap. 

DWARF 

Aren't  you  going  to  kiss  Nicky,  too? 
[Little  Boy  kisses  Dwarf.] 

LITTLE  BOY 

Good-bye,  Nicky.    Good-bye,  Giant. 
[The  little  boy  runs  out  of  the  gate  waving  his 
hand  to  the  Giant.] 

DWARF 

A  boy  named  Jack,  so  I've  heard  tell, 

Killed  a  giant  dead. 
69 


SNICKERTY  NIC* 


\ 


Mightn't  he  have  done  as  well 
By  loving  him  instead? 

Now  here's  a  boy  who  saves  the  day, 
With  swords? — no,  no,  with  kisses. 

And  really  there's  no  other  way 
One  half  so  good  as  this  is. 

For  killing  merely  makes  you  blue 

And  very  cross  and  snappy, 
While  loving  makes  not  only  you 

But  everybody  happy. 

And  kissing  giants  is  such  fun, 
They  think  you're  going  to  bite, 

But  as  soon  as  you  give  'em  another  one, 
Everything's  all  right. 

GIANT 

Snickerty  Nick,  how  did  the  children  come 

here?    Did  you  take  down  the  sign? 

70 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
Yes,  I  had  to.  You  see  the  flowers  didn't  like 
the  notice.  The  only  people  who  liked  it  were 
Winter  and  his  Gnomes.  They  thought  I  was 
asleep,  but  I  heard  Winter  tell  Northwind  why 
Spring  had  forgotten  this  garden. 

GIANT 
[Stands  thinking.] 
Nicky,  go  and  tell  that  little  boy  if  he  will  come 
back  I  will  give  him  my  kingdom. 

DWARF 

What  part  do  I  get  after  all  those  kicks? 
Well,  well,  "uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a 
crown."  Personally  I  enjoy  the  simple  life,  like 
the  colored  man.     Don't  you  know  his  song? 

GIANT 

No,  I  haven't  heard  it. 

DWARF 

I'm  a-buildin'  my  house 
On  a  mountain  so  high, 

7i 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

A  good  place  to  wait 
For  my  love  to  come  by. 

Go  'way  now,  all  of  you, 

Leave  me  alone 
On  the  peacefullest  mountain-top 

Ever  was  known. 

Go  on  a-scrimmagin' 

All  over  town 
For  a  stove-pipe  hat 

And  a  purple  silk  gown. 

But  leave  me  my  cabin 

High  up  as  the  moon, 
Here  where  my  true  love 

Will  come  to  me  soon. 

GIANT 

Stop  your  noise,  Nicky.    Go  and  find  the  little 

boy  and  bring  him  back  to  me. 

72 


'What  part  do  I  get  after  all  those  kicks?" 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
DWARF 

Can't  be  done. 

GIANT 

Not  if  I  give  him  all  my  kingdom? 

DWARF 

No,  he  doesn't  want  your  kingdom. 

GIANT 

What  makes  you  think  that? 

DWARF 

I  don't  think,  I  just  know  some  things  like 
women.  Besides,  you  heard  what  he  said.  He 
wouldn't  come  without  the  other  children. 

GIANT 

Is  that  why  Spring  wouldn't  come  here,  I  won- 
der? 

73 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 
It's  awfully  funny  and  yet  it's  true 
When  the  children  came  the  flowers  came  too. 

GIANT 

Go  and  find  him  and  tell  him  all  the  children 
can  come  back  and  play  with  him. 

DWARF 

With  me,  too.    Don't  forget,  Nicky. 

GIANT 
[Taking  up  the  sign.] 
Nicky,  I'm  going  to  burn  this  sign  up. 

DWARF 

[Pulling  it  away  from  Giant.] 

No,  no.    Give  it  to  me.    I  can  fix  it  so  that 
when  they  see  it,  they'll  come  back. 
[Dwarf  takes  the  brush  and  paints  letters  around 
the  ETT  on  the  sign  making  it  read  PETTED.] 

74 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

How  do  you  like  that?  "Trespassers  will  be 
petted." 

[Views  his  work  with  his  head  first  on  one  side 
and  then  on  the  other.] 

GIANT 

Here,  take  these  keys  of  my  kingdom  and  un- 
lock every  gate— so  that  we  can  all  have  the  king- 
dom.   But  first  go  and  find  the  little  boy. 

DWARF 

Hurrah! 

Children,  come  back  and  be  petted 

And  bring  all  the  others, 

Your  sisters  and  brothers, 

No  trespassers  now  will  be  etted. 

[Exit  Dwarf  by  the  gate.] 

[The  Little  Boy  appears,   climbing  over  the 
wall.] 

75 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
LITTLE    BOY 

Oh,  1  am  glad  you  have  changed  that  old  sign. 

GIANT 
[Lifting  the  Little  Boy  into  the  garden.] 
And  I'm  glad  you  have  come  back,  little  chap. 

[Little  children  are  seen  peeping  through  the 
gate.] 

LITTLE    BOY 

Show  'em  the  new  sign.    Show  'em  the  new 
sign,  good  Mr.  Giant. 

[The  Giant  holds  the  new  sign  up.] 

LITTLE    BOY 

Come  in !    Come  in !    He  says  you  may. 

CHILDREN 

Hurray!    Hurray! 
Come  in  and  play, 

For  the  Giant  is  back  and  he  says  you  may ! 

76 


■M  *.iwm  ■ 


^■■TWft.*^' 


"Dipsey,  ipsey,  tiddley  ipsey" 


SNICKERTY  NICK 
[They  join  hands  and  dance  round  the  Giant. ~\ 

Dipsey-wipsey, 
Tiddledy  ipsey, 
Snickerty  says  we  may! 

DWARF 

[Running  in  with  the  jingling  keys  and  skip- 
ping round  the  outside  of  the  circle  and 
joining  in  the  chorus  which  they  repeat.] 

Hurray!    Hurray! 
Hurray!    Hurray! 
Dipsey-wipsey, 
Tiddledy  ipsey, 
Snickerty  says  we  may. 

CURTAIN 

[The  Dwarf  puts  his  head  out  between  the  cur- 
tains and  smiles.  Then  he  comes  through 
and  holds  up  a  bunch  of  golden  keys.] 

77 


SNICKERTY  NICK 

DWARF 

Now  ladies  and  gentlemen,  here  are  the  keys, 
I  beg  you  to  do  me  this  courtesy,  please : — 
Unlock  every  door,  every  gate  with  these  keys, 
Every  gate,  every  door  in  the  kingdom ! 
And  then  I  shall  ask  one  more  favour  of  you ! 
Please  hand  the  keys  on  just  as  soon  as  you're 

through 
To  whoever  you  see  in  a  kingdom ! 
To  unlock  every  garden  and  make  them  all  free 
One  garden  for  children  and  giants — and  me — 
Oh,  open  your  hearts,  make  them  ample  and 

free — 
For  that  is  the  key  to  the  kingdom ! 

[The  Dwarf  throws  the  golden  keys  to  the  chil- 
dren in  the  audience.] 

THE   END 


78 


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